Best's binges hit donations

Monday 15 December 2003 00:00 BST

The liver specialist who gave Brian Clough life-saving surgery today criticised fellow football legend George Best for putting people off organ donation.

Transplant expert Derek Manas said the former Manchester United star's drinking binges, which have not stopped despite him being given a new liver in July 2002, have had a serious impact on other seriously-ill patients.

The specialist said today just 45% of relatives consented to organ donation when a loved one died, compared with 70% two years ago.

Staff at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, reported relatives would only agree to donate loved one's organs if they were assured they would not be given to alcoholics.

But the hospital, where Clough received life-saving treatment in January, said donors and their families may not give organs conditionally.

Mr Manas said his famous patient, who was known for his drinking as a manager at Nottingham Forest, was now a good example to other liver transplant recipients.

He said: "Sadly George Best has not proved himself to be a very good role model and his very high profile drinking has made people lose faith in transplantation.

"For every George Best, there are hundreds of other living patients who appreciate what has been done for them, but it is the celebrity case that people get to hear about.

"Brian Clough, who used to drink, had his transplant here and has not started drinking again.

"He is doing well and is proving to be a far better role model."Best's agent Philip Hughes said the number of registered organ donors went up following the footballer's high-profile operation last year.

Mr Hughes told PA News: "Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

"What the doctor has to realise is that George is an alcoholic which is a disease in itself.

"Even if you replace someone's liver it doesn't stop the craving for alcohol."At a news conference in January, Mr Manas said that the man known affectionately as Cloughie, felt "very privileged to have been given a new liver because of the amount of alcohol he had consumed in the past.

Mr Manas insisted at the time that Clough, an NHS patient, was not picked out for preferred treatment because of his celebrity.